Former US negotiator warns against hyping direct Iran-US conversation

A former US official involved in crafting sanctions against Iran during the Obama administration cautioned against overstating the significance of the brief exchange between Iranian and American chief negotiators, Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, after indirect Iran-US talks in Oman.

“This has value, but let's not go overboard here," Richard Nephew, a former US negotiator during previous nuclear talks with Iran said in a post on X.

"Yes, it is a positive sign as is the continuation of talks. But, Iran could have dropped this at any time and they picked a good tactical moment.”